Hard Rock Seattle close to announcing an opening date

Looks like it’s finally going to happen: Seattle’s new Hard Rock Cafe will likely open in January or February of 2010.

Permitting delays pushed the Seattle arrival of the popular themed restaurant chain from a target opening date in the summer to the fall, then to next year.

A Hard Rock spokeswoman said crews are working through one last round of approvals and should be ready to announce an opening date in the middle of this month.

Since its founding in 1971, Hard Rock has become a global tourist phenomenon, selling T-shirts and displaying rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia as far as Argentina, Kuwait and Thailand and as close as San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

It took the company this long to get to Seattle because, the company said, it took time to find the right spot.

Downtown regulars have probably noticed the building across the street from Seattle Coffee Works at 116 Pike St. looks about ready to go. Here’s how the company expects it to look it once it’s all lit up.